BANGKOK: Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was cleared on Friday of royal defamation charges, relieving a threat to his embattled political dynasty which has dominated Thai politics for two decades. The 76-year-old had faced up to 15 years in prison, but a Bangkok court found him not guilty of breaching the kingdom’s strict lese-majeste laws criminalizing criticism of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his family. “The court dismissed the charges against Thaksin, ruling that the evidence presented was insufficient,” his lawyer Winyat Chatmontree told reporters.

Looming ‘lese majeste’ court ruling holds royal reckoning for Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The former PM's lese majeste charge relates to an interview he did with a South Korean newspaper years ago.

Retired politician and billionaire businessman was accused of violating Thailand's strict laws on insults to royalty.

But the reprieve for Thaksin Shinawatra, who remains a political force, did not mean that the legal troubles for him and his family were over.

BANGKOK: Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was cleared on Friday of royal defamation charges, relieving a threat to his embattled political dynasty which has…

Lese-majesty case against Thaksin Shinawatra is dismissed, but his daughter Paetongtarn will hear next week if she will be removed as prime minster

The acquittal offers relief, but uncertainty surrounds Thaksin’s political dynasty as his daughter, Paetongtarn, faces legal challenges.

Un tribunale thailandese ha assolto l'ex primo ministro Thaksin Shinawatra, fondatore di una dinastia politica che ha dominato il Paese per oltre 20 anni, al termine di un…

Thaksin Shinawatra acquitted of charges dating back to comments made a decade ago

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra avoided a likely prison term Friday after his royal defamation case was dismissed.